London has been a global hub of arts and culture for centuries — the setting and inspiration for celebrated works of literature, drama and art, and home to artists and writers from around the world. This June and July, Christie’s invites you to revisit the city with London Now, an innovative summer season of exhibitions, events and auctions celebrating the capital’s unique identity and vibrant diversity at our headquarters in the historic district of St. James’s.   

Headlining the festival is The Art of Literature, our dedicated series of events exploring the relationship between art and literature. The Art of Literature: Auction Highlights Exhibition (6–16 June), an immersive showcase of the top lots from our summer auction season with fashion by Molly Goddard, and The Art of Literature: Loan and Selling Exhibition (6 June – 14 July), will unite works of art with the novels, poetry, drama and stories which have inspired them, and which they, in turn, have inspired. Curated by Christie’s next generation of specialists, the exhibitions will seek to forge new narratives and provoke discussion about the links between the literary and the visual arts. 

Alongside The Art of Literature exhibitions, we’re delighted to partner with English PEN, one of the world’s first human rights organisations, for a landmark online philanthropic literary auction with bidding open from 28 June to 12 July. First Editions, Second Thoughts will bring together works by over 80 leading authors and artists of our time including Margaret Atwood, Bernardine Evaristo and Salman Rushdie, each an extraordinary testament to the power of writing. 

The London Now festival will encompass our major auction series of 20th/21st Century Art and Classic Week. The full programme of auctions, exhibitions and events will be announced in the coming weeks. Don’t miss this exciting moment in the international arts and culture calendar — sign up to receive the latest updates on London Now.